The Happy Housewife (Samantha Sherman Book 1) (4 page)

Doug made a little noise, like a tiny snort and reached for his book. Sam got her own book and they read for a bit in strained silence. Doug reached over after a while and put a hand on her shoulder. “I love you.”

“I know. I love you too.” Sam put her book down, turned out the light and drifted off to sleep as Doug read beside her. She did love him, but maybe some stories were best not shared with him.

S
am woke to her alarm going off at 7:00 a.m. She looked over at the other side of the bed and slowly recalled, barely recalled, saying good-bye to Doug. He was so quiet and thoughtful when he got up early.

“Let’s see,” Sam muttered, “mental to do list. Get myself ready and then take Lindsey to camp.” She showered, dressed and then wandered into her daughter’s room. Lindsey was awake and quietly playing with her Barbies on the floor.

“Good morning, baby girl!” She helped Lindsey pick out what leotard to wear and, after a quick breakfast, hustled her off to gymnastics camp. Lindsey was hesitant when they got there but warmed up once she saw Chandra.

Returning home, Sam pulled back into her driveway from where she could see Lynette out walking her dog. She sighed aloud. Lynette was incredibly nice but very talkative and too gossipy for Sam. All the same, Sam did enjoy hearing the neighborhood news, but she knew she should
not
enjoy it so she tried to avoid too many conversations with Lynette per week. However, at the moment, it appeared unavoidable.

She got out of her car and felt the heat. It had already become noticeably warmer from when she had departed with Lindsey for camp. It was going to be another hot one. If she wanted to do any yard work, she would need to do it this morning.

Lynette had long ago spotted Sam and had crossed the street to corner her, um, talk to her. “Sam! How are you?” burbled Lynette.

“I’m well, and how are you?”

“Fine. Fine. You will not believe what happened Saturday!” Sam laughed to herself. Most conversations with Lynette started out with “You will not believe what happened.” Of course, Lynette would not keep telling Sam if she wasn’t interested and willing to listen …

“Saturday night, Evelyn Myer was
killed
! She was with Dwayne Walters who is in a
coma
over at Fairfax Hospital. The doctors don’t think he’ll make it.”

Sam was stunned. She had seen Dwayne and Evelyn around the neighborhood for years. Both were nice polite kids, particularly Dwayne. He was kind of nerdy but had a huge heart. He was particularly great at the community swimming pool where, the previous summer, he had helped Lindsey get over her fear of putting her head under the water. She did not know Evelyn as well, but she knew her younger sister who was a year ahead of Lindsey at school and her mother. Evelyn and Dwayne were just kids.

“Lynette, what happened?”

“Well, I guess they were out in Loudoun County at one of the new developments and there was an explosion. A bunch of the new homes were burned down.”

“Was it an accident or an arsonist?”

“They think it was one of those environmental groups, ALF or ELF or something. They left a sign. The police aren’t sure if the kids were involved or merely unlucky to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.”

“Oh,” said Sam, “I can’t imagine either Dwayne or Evelyn involved in something like that. I know they’re teenagers now but they’ve always seemed like good kids.”

“You never know with people though.”

Sam switched topics carefully, “I guess I should get a casserole or something over to Jamie and Celine. That seems like such a useless gesture, but what can you do? Do you know if they need anything else?”

“Well, the Walters are all at the hospital so you probably won’t get them at home until tonight. The Myers are at home now. The funeral will be Wednesday.”

“Wow, this is just terrible. I’ll at least get over to Jamie’s this morning with something. Thanks for letting me know, Lynette. I guess I’ll see you at the funeral.”

“Sounds good and take care.” Lynette resumed walking her dog, and as Sam watched her go, she thought how awkwardly funny the woman was. Lynette’s head was already on a not so subtle swivel, seeking out the next neighbor with whom to share the tragic news. The Town Crier, Lynette, did serve a useful purpose. By the end of the day the neighborhood would be informed and the families will have received support, which was a good thing.

Sam immediately dropped the idea of doing yard work and went inside to make the meals she had planned for that night and the next for the Walters and the Myer families. She had just about finished the first dish when the phone rang. She stretched from where she was working at her kitchen island and snatched the receiver from the mini desk.

“Hello.”

“Sam, thank goodness. I think they’re going to arrest me! I don’t know what happened, I really don’t.”

Sam did not immediately say anything as she processed what was happening. In the Coast Guard, they had taught her that it took fifteen seconds to mentally change your view of a situation; fifteen long seconds to adjust to new information that drastically changed what you thought to be true. Sam felt like she was taking ten minutes instead of fifteen seconds … was that Mrs. Thomas on the phone? How did she know about Evelyn and Dwayne? What did she mean about getting arrested?

“Sam, are you there?”

Sam finally stuttered out, “Mrs. Thomas is … is that you? What’s going on?”

“Dan is dead. He’s
dead
! I don’t know what happened. I’m so scared. Can you come over?”

Sam’s head was reeling … she slowly processed … okay, another death? Dan the tall guy … got it. “Yes, yes, I’ll be right over, Mrs. Thomas. Hang in there.”

Sam didn’t even say good-bye, she just hung up the phone. She quickly washed her hands and threw the meals she was preparing into the refrigerator. She automatically smoothed down her loose fit kaki shorts that were cuffed at her thighs and straightened her layered tank tops. She walked hurriedly over to the credenza and grabbed her small brown purse. She fumbled inside, pulled out her sunglasses, and jammed them on her face. Sam did a quick assessment to see if she was presentable … the glasses were a little big, not quite ‘Jackie O’ but a bit ‘Hollywood’ for traditional Fairfax. Her hair was down today. She had blown it dry after her shower this morning and had it tucked behind her ears while she worked. She now untucked it and ran a brush through her hair.

Sam was reeling as she headed out the door and walked to her car. She got in, started it, and pulled away, all on autopilot. Was this really all happening in one day? What was happening to Fairfax? As usual, whenever she felt truly stressed out and disoriented, old memories of other stressful times, usually of Coast Guard missions, crept out of her subconscious.
Oh Lord, here comes THAT night …

THAT night had started out rather calmly. Lt. Samantha Lee was on duty (a twenty-four-hour watch) at Coast Guard Air Station Los Angeles, her last duty station in the Coast Guard. She was the most senior person in the duty section and the “Aircraft Commander” (person in charge of the helicopter) for any flights that were launched. The first case of the night actually went rather well. It was called in around 11:00 p.m. There were two fishermen whose small fishing skiff had hit some rocks and shattered at the Channel Islands. The fishermen had managed to climb up on a ledge and were hypothermic from exposure to the cold water. The Coast Guard boats on scene were unable to get close enough to rescue the men due to large waves and strong winds. The park ranger was unable to access the ledge from the island as it was too high. A nighttime helicopter hoist was the only solution, even if it was a dangerous one.

Lt. Lee and her crew, eager to get going, had launched the helicopter in less than fifteen minutes and headed out to the islands. Once on scene they hoisted the two survivors and dropped them off at the hospital. It was a great night and a terrific rescue. The crew headed back to the air station tired but satisfied with a good night’s work.

They landed around 3:00 a.m. and, as sometimes happened, another call came in immediately. Lt. Lee expertly directed the refuel and quick relaunch of the helicopter. This time they were headed southwest to Catalina Island. They would be searching on an ‘uncorrelated mayday.’ This was a fancy Coast Guard way of saying that a ‘mayday’ had been heard over the radio, but there had been no second call, nor had the Coast Guard been able to make contact with the person in trouble to get a position or any other amplifying information. Many times these calls turned out to be nothing, usually someone playing a prank or messing around on the radio.

This particular call said only “motor vessel KELSEY is about to hit rocks.” There was only the single call. Coast Guard technology was able to narrow the general direction of the call, hence the reason the crew had headed to the area around Catalina Island, but had been unable to get an exact position. Lt. Lee and her crew assumed that the call was probably a fake. They were tired as they flew the thirty minutes out to the island. As usual, when the crew was fatigued they told jokes or silly stories to keep alert. In fact, that was the first night Lt. Lee had heard the horrible joke ‘the Aristocrats.’

Sam was jolted back to reality by the police lights as she turned onto Mrs. Thomas’s street. She had been smiling and almost laughed to herself as she remembered the version of the joke that one of the crew members told. So gross and yet so funny, particularly at 4:00 a.m. in the morning … Her smile faded and questions replaced the memories.

Police cars were in the driveway of Mrs. Thomas’s house, with an ambulance in front and a dark van parked behind. She saw that Dan’s Prius was still here. The car that belonged to that other couple was gone. She pulled up and parked at the curb opposite the house. She could see a handful of Mrs. Thomas’s neighbors dotting the yards around her. Sam took a deep breath and pushed open her car door.

The house’s front door stood wide open with the screen door shut. Sam could make out a crowd of people. At a quick glance, it looked like they were all men, and she could not spot Mrs. Thomas.
Maybe she’s in the kitchen?
Sam realized that the police would most likely not want her roaming the house, so entering through the kitchen might be easier anyway. She peeked in through the kitchen’s screen door and could immediately make out Mrs. Thomas sitting at the table. Sam did not see anyone else with her so she opened the door.

Mrs. Thomas glanced up and looked overjoyed to see her. Sam felt a huge stab of sympathy and headed straight towards her. She felt Mrs. Thomas stiffen as she hugged her and then relax and start to cry quietly. Sam quickly scanned the kitchen. Everything seemed to be in place as it was on Sunday. She clearly was not disturbing any evidence as there was no sign of blood or a body for that matter either.

Sam spoke in a whisper to Mrs. Thomas and asked, “What happened?”

Mrs. Thomas adopted her hushed tone and started, “I woke up this morning and found Dan was
dead
. There was blood all over his head … it was awful. I called the police and they came right away. They interviewed me for about an hour. You see, Dan and I were the only two people here last night. They found the back deck door open and Dan’s money and perhaps some credit cards were missing. I’m normally so careful with the doors but with Dan here I must have gotten careless because I felt safe. I had locked my bedroom door though. I guess that’s why I’m alive.” Mrs. Thomas paused for a minute and then looked helplessly at Sam, “Nothing like this has ever happened to me. What if they arrest me? What should I do?”

“Just tell the police everything you know. I’m really sorry about Dan and I’m so glad you locked your door.”

“Thanks, hon. I just don’t know what to do. I can’t stay here.” She looked up at Sam and, realizing what her words implied, hurriedly added, “I’ll just get a hotel room, I didn’t mean to suggest … I know your husband wouldn’t like a stranger staying at your place and you haven’t known me for that long.”

Sam instinctively responded, despite knowing that Mrs. Thomas was right, Doug would not want her to stay with them. “I’ve known you for over a year through church and of course Doug would want you to stay with us while all this is sorted out.”

Mrs. Thomas nodded her gratitude, obviously holding back more tears. “Well, do you think we could go now? I really hate being here while they go through all my things.”

“Sure we can. Do you have any clothes packed?”

“Oh no,” Mrs. Thomas started to look panicked again. “And what about my album?” She stared at a point past Sam and started rocking back and forth.

“Don’t worry, Mrs. Thomas, I’ll get you some clothes and your album.” As Sam said it she had no idea how she was going to accomplish what she was promising.

“My album and night gown are in the bedside table and my makeup bag and toothbrush are on the counter in the bathroom. Oh, my shampoo is in the shower. That’s all I need. Thank you so much.”

“I’ll be right back, Mrs. Thomas. Just hang tight.” Sam said this with way more authority than she felt. She reached the living room too quickly. It was filled with uniformed police officers. Three officers were examining the deck sliding door. Maybe dusting for prints? Sam started to smile as she realized she was evaluating what was going on based on television episodes of
Law and Order
and
CSI
. She had no idea what police procedure was for an actual crime scene. In the center of the room two other officers were looking through the room itself, opening drawers, and even picking up seat cushions. Good, one of them was female. If Sam could just catch her eye, maybe …
argh,
she was completely absorbed in the small writing desk she was looking through. Over by the front door was the only guy in regular clothes who kind of looked like that guy from CSI New York, Gary Sinise? Was that the actor’s name?
This guy must be a detective
, Sam thought. He had dark curly hair and a no-messing-around manner. It was too bad that he had a sour look on his otherwise semi-handsome face. She wondered why and then realized that he was staring right at her.
Oops.